UAlbany's "Principles of Teaching Responsibility" from 1994 is plagiarized from Michigan State University's "Code of Teaching Responsibility" from 1976.
I don't know who was in the UAlbany Senate in 1994, but at the time it was President H. Patrick Swygert http://www.law.howard.edu/1387 who passed the "Principles." He left for Howard University (where his degree was from), and resigned from Howard under less than ideal conditions: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/27/AR2007042701712_pf.html "an intolerable condition of incompetence and dysfunction at the highest level" sounds like UAlbany!
In 2000, UAlbany cited the (plagiarized!) "Principles of Teaching Responsibility" in their self-study for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education is the unit of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. (Self studies, which colleges also do for the National College Athletics Association, strike me as rather unlikely to ever find serious problems.)
Karen Hitchcock was President at the time, and she resigned under less than ideal conditions during an ethics inquiry. A similar problem cropped up at the next university she led.
It came up again in 2004, when they noted the Faculty Handbook might not have been updated since 1994. It's unclear if any action was taken. John R. Ryan was Interim President at the time; he'd also served as Acting Chancellor of SUNY, and briefly as Chancellor. He left when Nancy Zimpher became Chancellor, who'd been replaced at UWM by Carlos Santiago, who'd been replaced at UAlbany by Ryan. Musical chairs!
"Principles of Teaching Responsibility" is The University at Albany's Appendix 1 http://www.albany.edu/undergraduateeducation/18529.php under "Policies Related to Faculty Obligation" http://www.albany.edu/undergraduateeducation/policy_reminders.php in the University at Albany Handbook at http://www.albany.edu/senate/UAhandbook.htm (and as a subpage of University in the High School (UHS): http://www.albany.edu/uhs/policy_reminders.php
Much of the the italics and plain text correspond to Michigan State University's 1976 "Code of Teaching Responsibility": copied verbatim, or slightly paraphrased. MSU isn't cited anywhere on the webpage; in fact it states, "Specific sentences that correspond to previously existing law, regulation, University policy or AAUP Ethics are in italics."
"The Code which follows was approved by the Academic Senate on May 19, 1976." https://www.msu.edu/~assmci/ucsa/UCSA%20Minutes%20of%20September%2024,%202004.htm
"CODE OF TEACHING RESPONSIBILITY" MSU
"Principles of Teaching Responsibility" UAlbany
"The provisions of such a code are so reasonable to learned and humane individuals that it may appear redundant or unnecessary to state them. However, the University conceives them to be so important that performance by instructors in meeting the provisions of this code shall be taken into consideration in determining salary increases, tenure, and promotion." MSU
"The provisions of such a code are so reasonable and the University conceives them to be so important that adherence to them will be taken into consideration as part of the assessment of teaching effectiveness called for in Article XII of the SUNY Board of Trustees' Policies." UAlbany
"Instructors are responsible for insuring that the content of the courses they teach is consistent with the course descriptions approved by the" MSU 1
"Instructors are responsible for insuring that the content of the courses they teach is consistent with the course descriptions approved by the" UAlbany 1.
"Instructors are also responsible for stating clearly to students in their classes in their syllabi the instructional objectives of each course at the beginning of each semester." MSU
"Instructors are also responsible for stating clearly to students in each class the educational goals of the course at the beginning of each term (SED)" UAlbany 1
"It is expected that the class activities will be directed toward the fulfillment of these objectives and that the bases upon which student performance is evaluated will be consistent with these objectives." MSU
"It is expected that the class activities will be directed toward the fulfillment of those goals and that the basis upon which student performance is evaluated will be consistent with those goals." UAlbany 1
"Instructors are responsible for informing students in their classes through their syllabi of the methods to be used in determining final course grades" MSU 2
"Instructors are responsible at the beginning of each term for informing students in their classes of the attendance policy (UAC/Senate) and methods to be used in determining final course grades (SED)." UAlbany 2
"Examinations and other assignments submitted for grading during the semester should be returned with sufficient promptness to enhance the learning experience. Unclaimed final examination answers will be retained by the instructor for at least one semester so that they may be reviewed by students who desire to do so. Examination questions are an integral part of course materials, and the decision whether to allow their retention by students is the responsibility of the instructor. If instructors choose to allow students to retain examination materials, these materials should be accompanied by guidelines for how they may be used. Term papers and other comparable projects are the property of students who prepare them. They should be returned to students who ask for them and those which are not returned should be retained by the instructor for at least one semester." MSU 3
"Examinations and other assignments submitted for grading during the term should be returned with sufficient promptness to enhance the learning experience. Examination questions are an integral part of course materials, and the decision whether to allow their retention by students is the responsibility of the instructor. Term papers and other comparable projects are the property of students who prepare them. They should be returned to students who ask for them and those that are not returned should be retained by the instructor for at least one term (University Senate)." UAlbany 6.
"Instructors are expected to meet their classes regularly and at scheduled times. Instructors will notify their units if they are to be absent and if appropriate arrangements have not been made, so that suitable action may be taken by the unit if necessary." MSU 5.
"Instructors are responsible for meeting their classes regularly and at scheduled times according to the University calendar. Instructors should notify their department chair or program director if they are to be absent or late and appropriate arrangements have not been made, so that suitable action may be taken. " UAlbany 3.
"Instructors of courses in which assistants are authorized to perform teaching or grading functions shall be responsible for acquainting such individuals with the provisions of this Code and for monitoring their compliance." MSU 6.
"Instructors of courses in which assistants are authorized to perform teaching or grading functions are responsible for acquainting these individuals with the provisions of these principles and for monitoring compliance." UAlbany 7.
"Instructors are expected to schedule and keep a reasonable number of office hours for student conferences. Office hours should be scheduled at times convenient to both students and instructors with the additional option of prearranged appointments for students when there are schedule conflicts." MSU 7
"Instructors are responsible for keeping a reasonable number of office hours for student conferences (Academic Affairs/Faculty Handbook). Office hours should be scheduled at times convenient to both students and instructor, with the option of prearranged appointments for students when there are schedule conflicts." UAlbany 4
"Instructors who are responsible for academic advising are expected to be in their offices at appropriate hours during preenrollment and enrollment periods. Arrangements shall also be made for advising during registration." MSU 8
"Those who are responsible for academic advising should also be in their offices at appropriate times to accommodate advising and registration needs." UAlbany 4.
UAlbany's 1994 resolution is indexed at:
http://www.albany.edu/Searchable_List_of_Titles.xls
http://www.albany.edu/senate/images/Searchable_List_ofSenate_Legislation.xls
http://www.albany.edu/senate/images/Searchable_List_ofSenate_Legislation(2).els
Bill No. 1966-1967 Bills, Amendments, Resolutions Senate Action President's Action
"9394-02 EPC Principles of Teaching Responsibility Apvd 2/28/94 Apvd 4/7/94"
The webpage seemingly has not properly credited MSU for at least twelve years:
Somewhat incredibly, the seemingly-plagiarized "Principles of Teaching Responsibility" was cited in UAlbany's 2000 Middle States self study:
"Faculty professional responsibilities are delineated in "The Policy on Faculty Teaching, Service and Research Responsibilities," which is printed in Section I of the Faculty Handbook and incorporated as an attachment to the offer letter for each new faculty member on their entry to the institution. In addition, there is also a statement of the Principles of Teaching Responsibility, which outlines the professional obligations of all faculty and related support staff. These principles are drawn largely from previous existing policies, state laws and regulations, and AAUP’s Statement on Professional Ethics. Copies of all these documents will be available in the Document Room."
"Faculty Roles and Responsibilities." A Decade of Progress. Prepared for the Middle States Association of Colleges and Universities. January 2000. http://www.albany.edu/archived/middle_states/chapter6.htm#roles
The need to review it was mentioned four years ago:
Under "Faculty Roles and Responsibilities" in the minutes of the Middle States Faculty Subcommittee meeting September 24, 2008, it states:
"Faculty handbook — has it been revised since 1994? […] 'Principles of Teaching Responsibility [mentioned in 2000 self study]" (bracketed ellipses added; self study phrase in square brackets in original).
https://wiki.albany.edu/download/attachments/9898256/Faculty_Minutes_9-24-08.doc
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